Although Floyd beat some tough guys like Chuvalo, Bonavena, etc. , I personally think he was too frail to be a real heavy and had a bone structure and muscle size, not to mention chin, better suited for light heavy. Opinions?
I don't think so. He had great success at Heavy. I mean, he was the undisputed champ for six years. Of course Cus selected his opponents, which extended his reign in my opinion past what it should have been. Id much rather he'd be required to face the top ranked contenders at heavy, and drop to lt heavy if he couldn't compete. But he always did enough at heavy to stay there.
Floyd was a lot tougher than guys give him credit for. I think he was a great heavyweight. First person to regain the heavyweight title as well as the youngest to win it.
Patterson could not make the lhw limit anymore,at 21 looked perfect in the range 185-190. He was a natural cruiser
You're totally right! This thread has been brought up umpteen times! By the mid-50's Floyd could no longer make 175 for pete's sake. He was a natural 'Cruiser' by modern standards. In closing, out of my respect for my childhood hero, after being manhandled by Ingo in the first one, along with two devastating stoppages by Sonny, how many fighters in history can you say actually were better after that? Wouldn't have beaten Ali in 65 but his back constricted him, should have gone 3-0 against Quarry-Quarry-Ellis, and gave Ali all he wanted in his final fight at, almost 38 yrs. old! (Thank Charlie "p i s s ant Green" for that closed eye against Ali in 72.) R.I.P. Champ!!!
